Back in October we got all hot and bothered over our first peek at photographer Thomas Knight's upcoming "Red Hot" exhibit. Now, as the show nears (it kicks off December 16 in London), Knight is giving us more drool-soliciting imagery to help dismantle the stigma that red-haired men face.

"[Gingers] are completely emasculated and desexualized in popular culture," says Knight.

"The main thing for me is the huge polarization between the way our society perceives ginger men and ginger women," he adds. "You can name successful redheaded women in Hollywood. But with men, once you’ve said Damian Lewis, you’re stumped. There’s got to be a reason for that, because genetically it should be equal. But it hasn’t been allowed to happen. So I think the whole gingerism thing is a stealth form of acceptable racism that goes on in boardrooms, in authors’ minds. Look at Harry Potter – the redheads are the poor, weak family, the buffoons. If Harry Potter had been ginger, that would have been a different story."

A few more teases of the "Red Hot" show and it seems like Knight has really emphasized his point:

Hmmm. I know a few people that absolutely love red heads... to a point where it might be considered a fetish! However, I also know they aren't everyone's cup of tea...I didn't realize it was a stima. For me personally, attractiveness depends on the guy/girl and how they carry themselves... not the color of their hair. I don't know a lot of redheads, but the ones I know are all pretty cute. :)

Definition of activism: Activism consists of efforts to promote, impede, or direct social, political, economic, or environmental change, or stasis.

if you don't think there is stereotypes or stigmas about redheads then you haven't been paying attention. And I can't believe so many people are mad at Instinct for covering this...ever watched an episode of Glee??? They did an entire episode on red heads and the stigmas that they face.

if you're going to take a stance, please do. But be educated and don't call out things like racism and bigotry where there is none. It makes your argument invalid and you sound ill informed.

What a load of bollocks. Why don't you talk about something important? Like the stigma against people with HIV/AIDS, against Trans people, against blacks or Asians. No wonder there's so much hate against the community, we're too damn shallow and superficial. Get over it gingers, Ron Weasley isn't your champion.

Chris I think you need to get out more. There IS a stigma against "gingers" and this campaign has nothing to do with being shallow or superficial. Try educating yourself before you post such idiotic statements.

You have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. There does very much exist stigma against red heads. I suffered a lot growing up with other kids shouting abuse at me and on several occasions even being very violent towards me. I take great offense to you saying that this sort of thing doesn't happen. Just because it doesn't affect you doesn't mean it isn't real.

I don't know where people are getting off saying that there is no stigma against redheads. Comments saying that this article is disgusting for trying to defend a group of people is just cruel. My best friends 8 year old daughter tried cutting all her hair off to avoid being ridiculed for being a redhead. Ignoring an issue, or degrading it's importance, doesn't mean it stops existing. That's just perpetuating further acceptance of a hateful, discriminatory mindset. Choosing to accept every person and treat them equally should actually mean everyone.

There is a stigma: many sperm banks won't even accept redheads. And in Asia and Africa, redheads have been ostracized and/or attacked. Do your research before speaking out of turn. (For the record, I'm only "half" ginger: brown hair and red beard. True redheads won't give me the title, and many think I dye my hair. Yes, it's a bit silly.)

Um excuse me your defending redheads then your being rude to fat people Hi... Im fat and I find your fat ass ugly fuck rant offensive! Fat people dont like to be called fat ass you dumb fuck we are part of the gay community too! I dont love being 6ft 307pds but its a reality just like being a redhead can we please just try and get along and not be rude assholes that diss others with our comments?

I think the attitude to red-headed men and women is totally sh1t these days. They cop it bad, it's absolutely disgusting some of the things people say about them. So what if they have a lighter complexion and red hair? Who gives a sh1t? I've had two redhead girlfriends and they were both gorgeous!

And I'd like to add - the way the term ginger is used these days is like the N word for redheads. Totally uncool!

PS - and who says there aren't any good looking redheaded boys? Michael C Hall anyone?

In hollywood, no actor was bigger than Van Johnson, in the 40s and 50s and broadway in the 80s,with La Cage au Folles, read up his bio, lived his last years alone in Beekman Place and was the most elegant American boy ever; Yes, VAN JOHNSON.....see ''Miracle in the Rain' with Deborah Kerr; 'In the good old Summertime' with Judy Garland, see 'Battleground' "Go for Broke', see 'The SState of the Union" with Hepburn and Tracy, see all the big MGM films

Amen!!! Geez I mean I love instinct but you nailed it. I hate when peor in the LGBT community don't really get involved in true activism but when they attempt it's stuff like this. I'll admit the boys are cute and this may have been a better article if written as why we love redheads or something else... But stigma of redheads?!?!